Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy

Consultations offered at our two convenient locations in Houston and The Woodlands, TX

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy, Houston, TX, Greater Houston Breast Care

A nipple-sparing mastectomy is a surgical procedure that can address and prevent breast cancer by removing the glandular tissue of the breasts while preserving the appearance of your nipples, areolas, and breast skin. (1)

Greater Houston Breast Surgeons is one of the premier breast care clinics in both The Woodlands and Houston. Our team is composed of Dr. Loren Rourke, Dr. Elizabeth Bonefas, and Dr. Vega Vega, three leading surgeons with several years of dedicated experience. Our team combines cutting-edge technology, personalized medical therapies, and complex surgical techniques to help each of their patients with their oncological and breast care needs, allowing them to live their lives more freely, comfortably, and healthily.

If you are ready to schedule a consultation and explore your nipple-sparing mastectomy options, please contact us online or call (713) 701-7165.

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About Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies

A nipple-sparing mastectomy is an advanced procedure that removes glandular tissue from the breasts while conserving your natural skin envelope and nipple-areolar complex. This procedure can address the development and spread of breast cancer while still retaining the natural appearance and shape of the breasts. It is especially beneficial for women who have early-stage breast cancer without cancerous tumors near the nipple, or those who are genetically predisposed to developing breast cancer.

Benefits

Nipple-sparing mastectomy brings several notable benefits, such as:

  • Retained Appearance: The procedure preserves the natural shape of your breasts by retaining your breast skin, nipples, and areolas.
  • Early Stage Prevention: Nipple-sparing mastectomies are ideal for women with early stages of breast cancer that have yet to affect the nipple-areolar complex or breast skin.
  • Minimal Scarring: Any scarring will be thin and easily concealable beneath clothing. It will also fade as you recover until becoming nearly invisible.
  • Tailored Approaches: Our surgical team customizes each procedure according to each patient’s needs and anatomy, as there is no singular solution to addressing and preventing breast cancer.

Candidates

A nipple-sparing mastectomy may be ideal for you if you have received an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis but do not have any tumors near your areolas, or if you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

To qualify for this procedure, you should be in good general health without any other underlying medical conditions and hold realistic expectations regarding your results. It is also important that you are non-smoking or willing to quit using nicotine. Our surgeons will finalize your candidacy during your personal consultation.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, your surgeon will meet with you one-on-one to explain what a nipple-sparing mastectomy is, determine your candidacy, and create your treatment plan. They will explain who this procedure is best for, how they perform it, and its benefits and limitations. They will ask you about your medical history, personal concerns, and desired results. They will also physically assess your breasts, and they may perform imaging and other lab tests to determine the grade and stage of the cancer.

Your surgeon will then use this information to create your custom treatment plan. They will determine the most appropriate incision pattern and the most effective surgical techniques. Depending on your case, they may recommend pairing your procedure with another, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or others. Your surgeon will also dedicate time to answering and addressing each of your questions and concerns, as we want you to leave feeling well-informed about your upcoming procedure.

If you are ready to take the first step and schedule this consultation, please contact us online or call (713) 701-7165 to reach both our Houston and The Woodlands offices.

Preparation

You will need to begin making certain preparations once you have scheduled your procedure. Your surgeon will provide you with a set of detailed pre-operative directions, which may instruct you to:

  • Avoid taking certain medications or supplements that contain antiplatelet or blood-thinning properties.
  • Prepare to take time away from your professional, personal, and social responsibilities and commitments.
  • Ask a friend or family member to transport you home after your procedure and stay with you for the first 24 hours of your recovery.
  • Fill any prescriptions that you may need as you heal before the day of your procedure.
  • Avoid consuming any alcohol or nicotine in the weeks leading up to your procedure.

Procedure

Your nipple-sparing mastectomy will begin with a member of our team cleansing your skin before placing you under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will then place an incision across the breasts to access the underlying tissues using either the periareolar incision, lateral extension incision, mammary crease incision, or vertical radial incision.

  • Periareolar Incision: The periareolar incision follows the perimeter of the lower portion of the areola, and may be extended horizontally outwards.
  • Lateral Extension Incision: The lateral extension incision extends outward from the areola towards the armpit.
  • Mammary Crease Incision: This incision is a horizontal incision across the crease beneath the breasts.
  • Vertical Radial Incision: The vertical radial incision extends from the areola vertically downward. (2)

After making the correct incision for your case, your surgeon will excise all of the glandular tissue in the breasts to remove the cancerous cells or to reduce your risk of breast cancer. Whether you have a tumor or not, your surgeon will send tissue samples to a pathology lab for analysis, giving you deeper insight into your breast health. As they remove breast tissue, they will carefully preserve the areola, nipple, and skin envelope of the breasts. Finally, your surgeon will then carefully close each incision and allow you to rest before dismissing you home.

Recovery

Our surgical team primarily performs nipple-sparing mastectomies on an outpatient basis, which means you will return home shortly after your procedure concludes. However, depending on specific circumstances, certain patients may need to spend the night in the hospital.

Throughout your initial recovery phase, you can expect to experience some swelling, bruising, or tenderness around your breasts. These effects will dissipate as you continue to heal, but you may also manage them with prescribed medications and plenty of rest. Your surgeon will also provide you with a compressive garment to wear during this time, which can reduce further swelling and discomfort.

You may return to most of your daily activities after resting for approximately two to three weeks, but everyone’s recovery and pain levels are different. You will need to continue avoiding any lifting or engaging in anything demanding for another several weeks, or until your surgeon gives clearance. Most patients return to full activity around the six-week mark.

Your surgeon will provide you with a set of written recovery instructions when they meet you in person. It is essential that you follow each one, as your post-operative care can influence how well your results develop.

Results

After recovering, you will be able to experience the results of your nipple-sparing mastectomy. Your results will vary, but your areolas and nipples will retain their natural shape and pigment, and the skin envelope of your breasts will remain intact. Any scarring that remains will fade in the months following your procedure until becoming barely visible.

Because your surgeon is removing the glandular tissue from the breasts, they will appear flatter overall.

Corresponding Procedures

Nerve Preservation

Nerve preservation encompasses several different techniques that your surgeon can employ to restore and protect the natural sensations and sensitivities of your breast and nipples. Many patients often experience changes in the nipples and breasts after their procedure, whether they initially expected to or not. By integrating nerve preservation techniques into your procedure plan, you can avoid any undesirable effects and maintain your full sense of feeling.

Hidden Scar Approach

The hidden scar approach is a type of breast cancer surgery that conceals the initial incision within the natural contours of your breasts. Your surgeon will place the incisions within the areolas, or other easily concealable areas, to create clearer, more seamless results across the breasts. Your surgeon may combine this approach with your nipple-sparing mastectomy to minimize any post-operative scarring.

Cost of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies in Houston, Texas

Your surgeon will discuss the cost of your nipple-sparing mastectomy once they have established your procedure plan. This is because the cost of your nipple-sparing mastectomy will vary, as our surgical team designs each procedure around your specific oncological and reconstructive needs.

For further inquiries about pricing, please contact us online or call (713) 701-7165.

FAQ

What is a nipple-sparing mastectomy?

A nipple-sparing mastectomy is a specialized procedure that can remove cancerous breast tissue and tumors from within the breasts while preserving the skin envelope and nipple-areolar complex of the breasts.

After undergoing a nipple-sparing mastectomy, will my nipples lose their sensation?

Depending on the type of surgical approach your surgeon uses, you may experience a decrease in or loss of nipple sensation after your procedure.

Will there be significant scarring after my nipple-sparing mastectomy?

Every surgical procedure will bring some degree of scarring, but our surgeons prioritize discreet incision placement. Scars will fade significantly throughout your recovery, becoming nearly invisible over time.

What type of anesthesia will I receive during a nipple-sparing mastectomy?

You will receive general anesthesia, which means that you will remain unconscious throughout its entirety.

Will I need to undergo radiation therapy after my nipple-sparing mastectomy?

Our surgical team does not require each patient to undergo radiation therapy after their procedure, but your surgeon or oncologist may recommend it, depending on your specific circumstances.

References

  1. Nipple areola complex sparing mastectomy. Nih.gov. Published 2024. Accessed May 19, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4647000/#sec3
  2. Puckett Y, Menon G, Goethals A, Rose J. Mastectomy. Nih.gov. Published January 31, 2026. Accessed May 19, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538212/#article-24763.s8